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A Back for Every Cabinet The right choices balance strength, appearance, and efficiency B Y S T E V E L A T T A 48 F I N E WO O DWO R K I N G full that paperbacks are wedged into any usable opening. The shelves are so crowded, in fact, that it’s almost impossible to see the back of the case. For strictly functional cabinets like these, a sturdy back can be as simple as a plain sheet of plywood. But there are other types of cases that L need a good-looking back, and some instances in which an attractive back also must be rock solid. ike many avid readers and collectors, I have a lot of bookcases. Over the years, I’ve jammed some of them so I have display cases, for example, that house ceramics, antique tools, and other prized possessions. For cases like these, the back needs to look good. The case that holds my collection of first-edition books needs a different kind of back. It has a pair of inset glass doors, so the back must look good and also be quite rigid. That helps hold the case square and keep the doors from racking and binding, regardless of the substantial weight of the books. Fortunately, there are several ways to make an attractive back; some combine Photos: Steve Scott